Roll handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for handling rolls of wound material which comprises a frame on which a plurality of roll supporting heads are adjustably mounted. Each head is of the vacuum type and includes a probe that is engaged with the end of the roll and moved with respect to the head until the probe engages the opening in the center of the end of the roll whereupon the head is actuated to cause vacuum to be applied for lifting the roll.

1e atent 1 1 1 11 3 1 Francois Aug. 27', L974 ROLL HANDLING APP 1': 1438,5155 1/1369 Nolwicllcj 234/87 R x 3,730,3 8 73 D 4 8 [75] Inventor! e Fmmms Salem 3,737,051 6/1973 M21711 77 1739; [73] Assigne'e: American Qhain & Cable (Iompany,

Inc, New York, NY. Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant ExaminerBruce H. Stoner, Jr. [22] Flled' 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bames, Kisselle, Raisch & [2]] Appl. No.: 326,613 Choate [52] US. Cl 294/65, 214/658, 294/67 R, [57] 1 CT 2694/86 R An apparatus for handling rolls of wound material g which comprises a frame on which a plurality of roll supporting heads are adjustably mounted. Each head is of the vacuum type and includes a probe that is engaged with the end of the roll and moved with respect to the head until the probe engages the opening in the 294/] R, 81 R, 81 SF, 67 R, 67 D, 86 R; 2l4/658; 242/586, 79; 74/86, 665 A [56] References Cited center of the end of the roll whereupon the head is ac- UMTED STATES PATENTS tuated to cause vacuum to be applied for lifting the 3,062,578 11/1962 Bushong 294/65 roll.

3,089,600 5/1963 Fischer 294/64 R X 3,302,967 2/1967 Harris et al. 294/65 58 Chums, 12 Drawmg Figures la a;

SHEET Q [If 8 PAIENIEBmczmu PATENTEM 3.831 .992

sum 5% 8 AIR PRESSURE Fla. 8

PATENTED AUG 2 TIM InllrLllfinIalllllll-IIIIIJF.

|||||||||||iji 4 n @mmom PAIENTEB ans 2 7 m4 SHEET 7 (if 8 This invention relates to handling of rolls of paper, metal or the like and particularly to an apparatus for lifting the rolls and moving them from one position to another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the handling of rolls of wound paper, metal or the like, one method which has been commonly used is to grip the rolls mechanically either externally or at the opening of the core in the center thereof, lift the rolls and transport them to another position. The problem of handling the rolls is complicated by the fact that the rolls may vary in diameter, width and when standing on end, the top of the rolls may be in different horizontal planes or may be angled with respect to one another. In addition, it is often desirable to change the relationship between rolls as they are stacked on end from a side-by-side to a staggered relationship or from a staggered to a side-by-side relationship.

Where the roll-engaging apparatus engages the exterior of the roll, mechanical damage may occur to the roll material. In either case, it is necessary to center the lifting apparatus with respect to the roll before engaging the roll.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a roll lifting and handling apparatus wherein the center of the roll is accurately located; wherein the roll material is not damaged during handling; wherein rolls of varying diameters, heights when on end or ends of varying angles with respect to one another when the rolls are on end can be handled; wherein a plurality of rolls can be lifted and handled simultaneously in either a side-by-side or staggered relation; and wherein the relationship of the rolls can be changed during handling between side-by-side and staggered relationship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, the apparatus for handling rolls comprises a frame on which a plurality of roll supporting heads are adjustably mounted. Each head is of the vacuum-type and includes a probe that is engaged with the end of the roll and moved with respect to the head until the probe engages the opening in the end of the roll whereupon the head is actuated to cause the roll to be engaged for lifting the roll. More specifically, the probe is moved in a spiral path and when the probe engages the opening, the head is caused to engage the end of the roll. The head further is caused to become centered with respect to the probe before engagement with the roll. When the rolls are lifted, their relationship can be changed between sideby-side and staggered relationships.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary side elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the rolls can be placed into a staggered relation.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing the varying relationship between adjacent rolls that are being handled.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 55 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of movement of the probe.

FIG. 8 is a schematic pneumatic diagram of the apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. III is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. II is a fragmentary part sectional view taken along the line l11]l in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line l2-]l2 in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. I, the apparatus comprising the invention comprises a frame I0 that is supported by cables Ill from a hoist 12 which has rollers engaging I beam 113 so that hoist I2 is movable along an I beam 13. The I beam 113 is, in turn, movable in a similar fashion along a transverse I beam I4. The hoist I2 and beam 13 can be manually or motor driven in any conventional manner.

The frame 10 supports a compressor 15, air tank 16a and vacuum pump 17 for purposes presently described.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a second frame comprising spaced beams l6, l7 and spaced beams I8, 19 forms a parallelogram through pivotal supports 20, 21 extending from the main frame 10 on which the beams 18, 19 are pivotally mounted. THE ends of the beams 16, 18, I9 and 17 are pivotally interconnected to one another to define the aforementioned parallelogram. A pad or head assembly 22 is provided for each roll to be lifted and comprises a support 23 that is slidably mounted on the lower web of one of the beams 16, 17 and adapted to be positioned thereon by a cylinder and rod assembly 24, the cylinder being fixed to the beam and having its rod connected to the support 23. In addition, a cylinder 26 is mounted on beam 17 and has its rod connected at both ends to supports 27 on the main frame 10 so that by applying fluid to one or the other end of the cylinder 26, the relative relationship of the beams of the parallelogram can be changed from a right angle relationship such as shown in FIG. 2 to a parallelogram relationship such as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3 or back again.

The purpose of changing any such relationship is so that the rolls which are to be lifted and transported can be changed between a side-by-side relationship as shown in FIG. 2 and a staggered relationship as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the ends of the rolls when the rolls rest on a floor can vary in their relationship to one another in both the horizontal plane because one may be shorter than the other or the ends may be angularly related since one end may be at a different angle than the other.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, each head assembly 22 further includes a head 30 that is suspended by chains 31 from support 23. Each head 30 includes a bottom plate 32 on which a cylindrical housing 32a is provided, the housing 32a having circumferentially spaced brackets 34a that are connected to the chains 31.

A rotating plate 33 is mounted on bottom plate 32 for rotation about a vertical axis by balls 34 positioned between an annular flange 35 on rotating plate 33 and an annular flange 36 on bottom plate 32. A clamping plate 37 holds the rotating plate 33 on the bottom plate 32.

Rotating plate 33 is formed with a diametrically extending opening 38. A slidable plate 39 is adapted to be moved back and forth over the opening in a track formed by brackets 40 cooperating with the sides of the opening 38 to form a horizontal slideway. A finger or probe 41 is slidably mounted in a vertical opening 42 on a support 43 mounted on the sliding plate 39. A bracket 44 extends transversely from the upper end of the probe and limits the downward movement of the probe 41. In addition, a pin 45 on the support 43 extends radially inwardly into a slot 46 extending along a portion of the outer surface of the probe to limit upward movement of the probe 41.

The sliding plate 39 and, in addition, the probe 41 are adapted to be moved radially of the rotatable plate 33 by an arrangement which includes air cylinders 47 that are mounted at one end on pins 48 and have their piston rods 49 connected to an upstanding bracket 50 fixed on the sliding plate 39.

A gear 51 having teeth on its periphery is mounted in horizontal position and in vertically spaced relationship to the rotating plate 33 by vertical spacers 52. The pinion gear 53 of a rotary air motor 54 is meshed with the gear 51 to rotate the gear. The air motor 54 is supported on the stationary plate 32 by a bracket 55.

Spacer pads 56 which are adapted to engage the end of the roll, as presently described, are provided at circumferentially spaced points. Each pad 56 is mounted on a vertical shaft 57 of a linear air motor 58 fixed on the top wall of the housing 32a. A rotary junction or union 59 is provided on the housing 33 for directing air and vacuum, as presently described. A sealing ring 60 of resilient material is provided on the periphery of the bottom plate 32 for engaging the roll and a second sealing ring 61 of resilient material is mounted on a plate 62 fixed to the support 43 so that when the rings 60, 61 engage the end of a roll, a vacuum chamber is provided between the rings and in the overlying area above the rings. As further shown in FIG. 5, a valve 75 is provided on the sliding plate 39 and has an actuator 64 adapted to be actuated by a downwardly extending portion 65 of the bracket 44.

Referring to FIG. 8, which is a schematic pneumatic diagram, the corresponding portions of the apparatus heretofore described are referred to by the same reference numerals for purposes of clarity.

In FIG. 8, the parts shown above the rotary union 59 are mounted in fixed relationship withe respect to the housing 32a while the parts below the rotary union are mounted for rotation with the rotating plate 33. Air from a source such as the air tank (FIG. 1) is directed through a filter 70 to an electrically operated valve 71, pilot operated valve 72, vacuum control valve 73. Valve 71 controls the flow to a valve 74 and to the rotaty union 59. Air supplied to the rotary union 59 is directed to pilot valve 75, regulator 76 and valve 77. In addition pilot valves 78, 79 are provided and are actuated at each end of the stroke of cylinders 47, as presently described.

Operation With the roll of paper or the like in a position with the edge of the roll up, the head assembly is lowered into place overlying the roll. The operator then pushes the VACUUM ON button. If the probe 41 on the unit is not in the center hole of the roll, the following operations occur. The probe, hitting the top of the roll, shifts pilot valve 75. When the VACUUM ON button is pushed, this opens valve 71. The air passes through valves 71 and to the air pilot on valve 77. Valve 77 shifts allowing regulated air pressure to pass to the probe drive cylinders 47. At the same time as the cylinders 47 start the move, another operation takes place. Air through valves 71 and 75 flows to an in-line pilot operator (in one of the probe drive cylinders 47) and pilots valve 74. This shifts valve 74 allowing air to pass to the air motor 54. The air motor 54 through a gear drive 53, 51 rotates the probe 41 and probe drive cylinders 41, valves 75 and 77 and pilot valves 78 and 79 of the rotating parts. As the air motor rotates the m tating parts, the probe drive continues to move the probe 41. In this way, the probe travels in a path called the Sprial of Archimedes. In order to define this curve more specifically, it can be said that it is generated by a point moving uniformly along a straight line while the line revolves with uniform angular velocity about a fixed point.

The probe 41 continues on its spiral path until it drops into the hole which is the core of the roll. At this time, the following operations occur. Valve 75 is shifted. This releases the air pilot on valve 74 through pilot valve 79. At this pressure is released on valve 74, the-spring return shifts the valve 74 which stops the air motor 54. This, in turn, stops the rotation of the rotating parts. At the same time, air pressure is sent to air pilot on valve 77 which shifts valve 77. This returns the probe drive cylinders 47 to their extended or centered position. As they reach the end of their stroke, they have pulled the head to the center of the roll. When they have reached valve A which supplies air to the pressure pilot of valve 72, valve 72 is shifted which retracts the three-pad support cylinders 58. These cylinders 58 thus lower the head onto the roll letting the seal rings 60, 61 contact the roll. The pressure that retracts the pad support cylinders 58 also pilots the vacuum control valve 73. This allows the vacuum pump to be connected to the vacuum chamber of the pad as shown in broken lines in FIG. 8. This creates the vacuum in the head which is capable of lifting the roll.

After being lifted, the rolls can be individually adjusted on beams 16, 17 by actuation of cylinders 24 and can be arranged in side-by-side or staggered relation by actuation of cylinder 26.

After the paper roll has been movedto its new location, the following operations take place. The VAC- UUM RELEASE button is pushed. This shifts valve 71 shutting off air pressure to the rotating parts and the air motor drive. The pressure pilot on valve 72 is vented and valve 72 shifts which extends the pad support cylinders 58. At the same time, valve 73 is energized which shifts valve 73. This blocks the line to the vacuum pump and releases the vacuum in the vacuum chamber. As the vacuum is released, the three-pad support cylinders 58 lift the head 30 off the paper roll to allow the head to be removed easily.

There are two other operations that can apply to this machine other than the one described previously. The first is the possibility that the probe will fall into the paper roll core without any rotation required. The second is that the prove may not find the core because the pad has been placed too far from the center of the roll.

When the probe falls into the core of the paper roll without any rotation, the following occurs. After the head is lowered, the VACUUM ON button is pushed. Air pressure travels through valves 71 and 75 piloting valve 77 which keeps the probe drive cylinders 47 in the extended position. Also through valve A air is passed to air pilot of valve 72 which shifts valve 72, raising the three-pad support cylinders 58 and turning the vacuum on as before.

The second possibility is that when the probe rotates and moves to the end of its stroke and does not locate the core of the paper roll, the following operations occur. The probe drive cylinders 47 retract the full stroke. At this point, the in-line pilot valve 79 is actuated. This vents the pressure pilot of valve 74 and valve 74 is shifted by its spring return. This stops the air motor 54 and any rotation. At this point, everything is stopped and the following steps must be followed to reset the pad. First, the head must be raised off of the roll. This makes the probe 41 actuate valve 75 and from this point, the same sequence of operations occurs as if the pad had found the center of the roll. At this point, the VACUUM RELEASE" button is pushed and the unit goes through the release operation. The unit can then be placed on the roll a second time and again VACUUM ON button must be pushed to start the operation.

ln the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 9-12, provision is made for handling rolls of different diameters and at the same time maintaining the rolls in either a compact side-by-side or staggered relation.

In this form, the beams lfia, 17a are pivoted to the beams 18a, 1% by eccentric pivots 80. Each pivot 80 comprises a shaft 81 journalled on projecting arms 82, 83 of beams 18a, 19a. Each shaft 81 has an intermediate eccentric portion 84 that is journalled in a cylindrical recess of an arm 85 on the end of beam 16a or 17a that extends between the arms 82, 83. A sprocket 86 is fixed to the upper end of each shaft 811 and a chain 87 is trained over sprockets 86. The ends of the chain 87 are fastened to the piston rod 88 of a double action piston motor 89. Actuation of the motor 89 rotates sprockets 86 to move the beams 16a, 17a toward and away from one another to accommodate rolls of different diameters as shown in broken lines in P10. 10. A piston motor 90 has its cylinder 91 pivoted to the frame a and its piston rod 92 pivoted to a crank arm 93 fixed to beam 19a.

Actuation of motor 90 changes the relationships of the beams forming the parallelogram between a right angle relationship for side-by-side positioning of the rolls to a relationship wherein the rolls are staggered.

I claim:

ll. In a roll handling apparatus, the combination comprising a frame,

a plurality of roll supporting heads,

means for mounting each head on said frame,

each head having roll engaging means thereon adapted to engage a roll for lifting the roll, a probe, means for supporting said probe on each said head for movement with respect to the head, and means for moving and rotating the probe during said movement in an arcuate path with respect to said head such that when the head is brought into position adjacent the end of a roll and the probe engages the end of the roll and the probe is moved, the probe seeks and finds an opening in the end of the roll. 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll for producing a signal.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with an opening in the end of a roll to terminate the movement of the probe with respect to the head.

4. The combination set forth in claim ll including means for holding the head in spaced relation to the end of the roll during the movement of the probe.

5.. The combination set forth in claim 4 including the means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll to retract said spacing means.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll to cause said roll engaging means to engage said roll.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said probe comprises means for guiding said probe in a straight line path and means for rotating said last-mentioned means with respect to said head.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a gear and means for rotating said gear.

9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said probe is mounted for vertical movement with respect to said head such that upon engagement with an opening in the end of a roll, it moves vertically downwardly into said opening.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including means responsive to said vertical movement of said probe for producing a signal.

11. The combination set forth in claim 9 including means responsive to said vertical movement of said probe to terminate the movement of said probe.

112. The combination set forth in claim 9 including means responsive to the vertical movement of the probe to cause said roll engaging means to be actuated to engage the roll.

13. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said roll engaging means comprises vacuum means.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said vacuum means comprises means providing a seal with the end of the roll and means for applying a vacuum to the space above the roll.

15. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for moving each said head with respect to said frame.

16. The combination set forth in claim ll wherein said frame comprises a parallelogram linkage, said means for supporting said heads being along one pair of the legs of said parallelogram, and means for supporting said parallelogram linkage and moving said linkage with respect to said support whereby the configuration of the parallelogram can be changed.

17. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the roll to move the head to a relatively centered position with respect to said probe.

18. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the opening in the roll to return the probe and head to their usual relative positions.

19. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for holding the head in spaced relation to the end of the roll during the movement of the probe,

means responsive to the engagement of the probe with an opening in the end of a roll to terminate the movement of the probe with respect to the head, retract the spacing means and cause said roll engaging means to engage the roll.

20. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises spaced parallel beams on which said heads are supported.

21. The combination set forth in claim including means for moving said parallel beams toward and away from one another.

22. The combination set forth in claim 21 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a second pair of beams pivoted to said first-mentioned pair of beams to form a parallelogram,

said means for moving comprising eccentric pivot means such that rotation of said eccentric pivot means causes said first-mentioned beams to move toward and away from one another.

23. The combination set forth in claim 22 including means for rotating said eccentric pivot means simultaneously.

24. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein said eccentric rotating means comprises members fixed to said eccentric pivot means, flexible means trained over said rotary means, and means for translating said flexible means.

25. The combination set forth in claim 24 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a device connected to the ends of said flexible means and movable longitudinally along the portion of the length of the flexible means.

26. The combination set forth in claim 24 wherein said rotary members comprise sprockets and said flexible means comprises a chain.

27. The combination set forth in claim 26 whrein said translating means comprises a cylinder having piston rods extending outwardly from each end thereof and connected to said chain.

28. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a pair of beams including means for moving said beams toward and away from one another and longitudinally with respect to one another.

29. The combination set forth in claim 28 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a second pair of beams pivoted to said first-mentioned pair of beams such that the angular relationship between said first and second pairs of beams can be changed.

30. The combination set forth in claim 29 including means for changing the angular relationship between said first and second pairs of beams.

31. The combination set forth in claim 30 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a fluid operated cylinder comprising a cylinder pivoted to one of said beams and a piston rod pivoted to the other of said beams.

32. In a roll handling apparatus, the combination comprising a frame, a roll support head, said head having roll engaging means thereon adapted to engage a roll for lifting the roll, a probe, means for supporting said probe on said head for movement with respect to the head, and means for moving and rotating the probe during said movement in an arcuate path with respect to said head such that when the head is brought into position adjacent the end of a roll and the probe engages the end of the roll and the probe is moved, the probe seeks and finds an opening in the end of the roll. 33. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll for producing a signal.

34. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with an opening in the end of a roll to terminate the movement of the probe with respect to the head.

35. The combination set forth in c aim 32 including means for holding the head in spaced relation to the end of the roll during the movement of the probe.

36. The combination set forth in claim 35 including the means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll to retract said spacing means.

37. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll to cause said roll engaging means to engage said roll.

38. The combination set forth in claim 32 wherein said means for moving said probe comprises means for guiding said probe in a straight line path and means for rotating said last-mentioned means with respect to said head.

39. The combination set forth in claim 38 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a gear and means for rotating said gear.

40. The combination set forth in claim 32 wherein said probe is mounted for vertical movement with respect to said head such that upon engagement with an opening in the end of a roll, it moves vertically downwardly into said opening.

41. The combination set forth in claim 40 including .means responsive to said vertical movement of said probe for producing a signal.

42. The combination set forth in claim 40 including means responsive to said vertical movement of said probe to terminate the movement of said probe.

43. The combination set forth in claim 40 including means responsive to the vertical movement of the probe to cause said roll engaging means to be actuated to engage the roll.

44. The combination set forth in claim 40 wherein said roll engaging means comprises vacuum means.

45. The combination set forth in claim 44 wherein said vacuum means comprises means providing a seal with the end of the roll and means for applying a vacuum to the space above the roll.

46. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the roll to move the head to a relatively centered position with respect to said probe.

47. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the opening in the roll to return the probe and head to their usual relative positions.

48. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means for holding the head in spaced relation to the end of the roll during the movement of the probe,

means responsive to the engagement of the probe with an opening in the end of a roll to terminate the movement of the probe with respect to the head, retract the spacing means and cause said roll engaging means to engage the roll.

49. The method of locating an opening in the end of a roll which comprises bringing a head into predetermined relation to the end of a roll, bringing a probe on the head into engagement with a portion of the end of the roll,

and moving the probe in a direction transversely and rotatably inwardly simultaneously until the probe engages the opening.

50. The method of locating an opening in the end of a roll which comprises bringing a head into predetermined relation to the end of a roll,

bringing a probe on the head into contact with the end of the roll,

translating the probe radially with respect to the roll and simultaneously rotating the probe with respect to the axis of the roll until the probe engages the opening in the end of the roll.

51. In a roll handling apparatus, the combination comprising a frame,

a first pair of beams,

a plurality of roll supporting heads mounted on said first pair of beams,

each head having roll engaging means adapted to engage a roll for lifting the roll,

a second pair of beams,

means for pivoting said second pair of beams to said first pair of beams to form a parallelogram,

means for pivoting said second pair of beams to said frame intermediate the ends of said second pair of beams,

and means interposed between said frame and said second pair of beams for changing the angular relationship between said frame and said second pair of beams and thereby moving said first pair of parallel beams toward and away from one another.

52. The combination set forth in claim 51 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a fluid operated motor.

53. The combination set forth in claim 52 wherein said means for pivoting said second pair of beams to said first pair of beams comprises eccentric pivot means such that rotation of said pivot means causes said first pair of beams to move toward and away from one another without changing the angular relationship between said second pair of beams and said frame.

54. The combination set forth in claim 53 including means for rotating said eccentric pivot means simultaneously.

55. The combination set forth in claim 54 wherein said eccentric rotating means comprises rotating members fixed to said eccentric pivot means, flexible means trained over said rotary members, and means for translating said flexible means.

56. The combination set forth in claim 55 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a device connected to the ends of said flexible means and movable longitudinally along the portion of the length of the flexible means.

57. The combination set forth in claim 55 wherein said rotary members comprise sprockets and said flexible means comprises a chain.

58. The combination set forth in claim 57 wherein said translating means comprises a cylinder having piston rods extending outwardly from each end thereof and connected to said chain. 

1. In a roll handling apparatus, the combination comprising a frame, a plurality of roll supporting heads, means for mounting each head on said frame, each head having roll engaging means thereon adapted to engage a roll for lifting the roll, a probe, means for supporting said probe on each said head for movement with respect to the head, and means for moving and rotating the probe during said movement in an arcuate path with respect to said head such that when the head is brought into position adjacent the end of a roll and the probe engages the end of the roll and the probe is moved, the probe seeks and finds an opening in the end of the roll.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll for producing a signal.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with an opening in the end of a roll to terminate the movement of the probe with respect to the head.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for holding the head in spaced relation to the end of the roll during the movement of the probe.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 including the means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll to retract said spacing means.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll to cause said roll engaging means to engage said roll.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said probe comprises means for guiding said probe in a straight line path and means for rotating said last-mentioned means with respect to said head.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a gear and means for rotating said gear.
 9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said probe is mounted for vertical movement with respect to said head such that upon engagement with an opening in the end of a roll, it moves vertically downwardly into said opening.
 10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including means responsive to said vertical movement of said probe for producing a signal.
 11. The combination set forth in claim 9 including means responsive to said vertical movement of said probe to terminate the movement of said probe.
 12. The combination set forth in claim 9 including means responsive to the vertical movement of the probe to cause said roll engaging means to be actuated to engage the roll.
 13. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said roll engaging means comprises vacuum means.
 14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said vacuum means comprises means providing a seal with the end of the roll and means for applying a vacuum to the space above the roll.
 15. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for moving each said head with respect to said frame.
 16. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a parallelogram linkage, said means for supporting said heads being along one pair of the legs of said parallelogram, and means for supporting said parallelogram linkage and moving said linkage with respect to said support whereby the configuration of the parallelogram can be changed.
 17. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the roll to move the head to a relatively centered position with respect to said probe.
 18. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to the engagement of the opening in the roll to return the probe and head to their usual relative positions.
 19. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for holding the head in spaced relation to the end of the roll during the movement of the probe, means responsive to the engagement of the probe with an opening in the end of a roll to terminate the movement of the probe with respect to the head, retract the spacing means and cause said roll engaging means to engage the roll.
 20. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises spaced parallel beams on which said heads are supported.
 21. The combination set forth in claim 20 including means for moving said parallel beams toward and away from one another.
 22. The combination set forth in claim 21 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a second pair of beams pivoted to said first-mentioned pair of beams to form a parallelogram, said means for moving comprising eccentric pivot means such that rotation of said eccentric pivot means causes said first-mentioned beams to move toward and away from one another.
 23. The combination set forth in claim 22 including means for rotating said eccentric pivot means simultaneously.
 24. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein said eccentric rotating means comprises members fixed to said eccentric pivot means, flexible means trained over said rotary means, and means for translating said flexible means.
 25. The combination set forth in claim 24 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a device connected to the ends of said flexible means and movable longitudinally along the portion of the length of the flexible means.
 26. The combination set forth in claim 24 wherein said rotary members comprise sprockets and said flexible means comprises a chain.
 27. The combination set forth in claim 26 whrein said translating means comprises a cylinder having piston rods extending outwardly from each end thereof and connected to said chain.
 28. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a pair of beams including means for moving said beams toward and away from one another and longitudinally with respect to one another.
 29. The combination set forth in claim 28 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a second pair of beams pivoted to said first-mentioned pair of beams such that the angular relationship between said first and second pairs of beams can be changed.
 30. The combination set forth in claim 29 including means for changing the angular relationship between said first and second pairs of beams.
 31. The combination set forth in claim 30 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a fluid operated cylinder comprising a cylinder pivoted to one of said beams and a piston rod pivoted to the other of said beams.
 32. In a roll handling apparatus, the combination comprising a frame, a roll support head, said head having roll engaging means thereon adapted to engage a roll for lifting the roll, a probe, means for supporting said probe on said head for movement with respect to the head, and means for moving and rotating the probe during said movement in an arcuate path with respect to said head such that when the head is brought into position adjacent the end of a roll and the probe engages the end of the roll and the probe is moved, the probe seeks and finds an opening in the end of the roll.
 33. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll for producing a signal.
 34. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with an opening in the end of a roll to terminate the movement of the probe with respect to the head.
 35. The combination set forth in c aim 32 including means for holding the head in spaced relation to the end of the roll during the movement of the probe.
 36. The combination set forth in claim 35 including the means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll to retract said spacing means.
 37. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the end of the roll to cause said roll engaging means to engage said roll.
 38. The combination set forth in claim 32 wherein said means for moving said probe comprises means for guiding said probe in a straight line path and means for rotating said last-mentioned means with respect to said head.
 39. The combination set forth in claim 38 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a gear and means for rotating said gear.
 40. The combination set forth in claim 32 wherein said probe is mounted for vertical movement with respect to said head such that upon engagement with an opening in the end of a roll, it moves vertically downwardly into said opening.
 41. The combination set forth in claim 40 including means responsive to said vertical movement of said probe for producing a signal.
 42. The combination set forth in claim 40 including means responsive to said vertical movement of said probe to terminate the movement of said probe.
 43. The combination set forth in claim 40 including means responsive to the vertical movement of the probe to cause said roll engaging means to be actuated to engage the roll.
 44. The combination set forth in claim 40 wherein said roll engaging means comprises vacuum means.
 45. The combination set forth in claim 44 wherein said vacuum means comprises means providing a seal with the end of the roll and means for applying a vacuum to the space above the roll.
 46. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the probe with the opening in the roll to move the head to a relatively centered position with respect to said probe.
 47. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means responsive to the engagement of the opening in the roll to return the probe and head to their usual relative positions.
 48. The combination set forth in claim 32 including means for holding the head in spaced relation to the end of the roll during the movement of the probe, means responsive to the engagement of the probe with an opening in the end of a roll to terminate the movement of the probe with respect to the head, retract the spacing means and cause said roll engaging means to engage the roll.
 49. The method of locating an opening in the end of a roll which comprises bringing a head into predetermined relation to the end of a roll, bringing a probe on the head into engagement with a portion of the end of the roll, and moving the probe in a direction transversely and rotatably inwardly simultaneously until the probe engages the opening.
 50. The method of locating an opening in the end of a roll which comprises bringing a head into predetermined relation to the end of a roll, bringing a probe on the heAd into contact with the end of the roll, translating the probe radially with respect to the roll and simultaneously rotating the probe with respect to the axis of the roll until the probe engages the opening in the end of the roll.
 51. In a roll handling apparatus, the combination comprising a frame, a first pair of beams, a plurality of roll supporting heads mounted on said first pair of beams, each head having roll engaging means adapted to engage a roll for lifting the roll, a second pair of beams, means for pivoting said second pair of beams to said first pair of beams to form a parallelogram, means for pivoting said second pair of beams to said frame intermediate the ends of said second pair of beams, and means interposed between said frame and said second pair of beams for changing the angular relationship between said frame and said second pair of beams and thereby moving said first pair of parallel beams toward and away from one another.
 52. The combination set forth in claim 51 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a fluid operated motor.
 53. The combination set forth in claim 52 wherein said means for pivoting said second pair of beams to said first pair of beams comprises eccentric pivot means such that rotation of said pivot means causes said first pair of beams to move toward and away from one another without changing the angular relationship between said second pair of beams and said frame.
 54. The combination set forth in claim 53 including means for rotating said eccentric pivot means simultaneously.
 55. The combination set forth in claim 54 wherein said eccentric rotating means comprises rotating members fixed to said eccentric pivot means, flexible means trained over said rotary members, and means for translating said flexible means.
 56. The combination set forth in claim 55 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a device connected to the ends of said flexible means and movable longitudinally along the portion of the length of the flexible means.
 57. The combination set forth in claim 55 wherein said rotary members comprise sprockets and said flexible means comprises a chain.
 58. The combination set forth in claim 57 wherein said translating means comprises a cylinder having piston rods extending outwardly from each end thereof and connected to said chain. 